The "Magnificent Minerals" program introduces K-2 students to the wonders of minerals- what they are, how they make up rocks and how they form crystals. Below are some sample resources we have developed for this topic. If you would like to borrow mineral samples for your classroom, check out our Loaner Kits.
They are all free for you to use thanks to the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian State University. If you have questions about any of these resources, field trip opportunities, classroom visits or to request activities for different topics, please our Outreach Coordinator at mckinneymuseum@appstate.edu.
Resources:
- "1st Grade Crystals" slideshow- introduces students to crystals, perfect for leading into a geode-making activity.
- Magnificent Minerals 5E- A 5E learning cycle summary for teaching about minerals in K-2 classes.
- Geodes student handout- A two-sided sheet that contains information about geodes. It is geared towards K-2 students but depending on the reading level of the class, might work better as a teacher read-along than for students to read themselves.
- K-2 McKinney Museum student handout- Example of the type of handout a visiting K-2 class would get when they arrive at the McKinney Museum. Materials are adapted for each group depending on interest, length of visit, etc.
Standard Alignment:
NCSES 1.E.2 Understand the physical properties of Earth materials that make them useful in different ways.
1.E.2.1 Summarize the physical properties of earth materials, including rocks, minerals, soils and water that make them useful in different ways
A successful egg shell geode!
Other tips for teachers:
- Want to borrow some resources such as rock or mineral samples? Check out the loaner kits we have available for free.
- Related activities can also be found in the Hard as Rock learning module for K-2.
- If you are intested in visiting our geology facilities or having a guest speaker in your class, please contact us at mckinneymusem@appstate.edu